Comments on: Legacy

By: Evelyn Herwitz

Evelyn Herwitz — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 14:11:37 +0000

In reply to Julie Veronick. Thank you, Julie. It means a great deal to me that writing this blog can really help others struggling with this disease. I hope your husband is getting good care. Scleroderma has become the third partner in my marriage, and I'm sure you are experiencing the same. Support groups help for both your husband and for you. Please take a look at the Resources page in my blog for contact information, if you haven't located a group in your area already. My best wishes to both of you.

By: Julie Veronick

Julie Veronick — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 05:10:03 +0000

Evelyn: Thank you for your wonderful words and your insights on Scleroderma, the process of living with it, and just plain the process of living day-to-day. Thank you especially for this piece. My husband was diagnosed 7 months ago with scleroderma and Bach is his favorite composer. It was wonderful to be able to click on your link for the 2nd movement of the violin piece and read your marvelous words with its restorative, peaceful notes playing as counterpoint to your insightful words. It’s somehow assuring to know that someone else out there deals with the problems of tiredness after a “full night’s sleep” (ha!) and walking like they are wading through glue – watching my husband go from such an active person only 7 months ago to his current state has been hard. It is good to know that at least the mind is still there – although distracted daily by pain. Keep writing – if nothing else your legacy will be to inspire those of us who either are helping a loved one with this rotten disease or for those who are dealing with it themselves. You are, at least for me, a newly discovered jewel that I shall treasure!

By: Evelyn Herwitz

Evelyn Herwitz — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 00:28:05 +0000

In reply to Pat Bizzell. I often think of this process, figuring out what matters, where you're headed, how to get there, as analogous to the creative process of writing a short story. You start writing and follow where it leads. One of my fiction instructors likened it to following a penlight through the forest. So, yes, you don't often know the true, long-term impact of your efforts. And it's a blessing when someone takes the time to let you know that your work mattered.

By: Pat Bizzell

Pat Bizzell — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 21:52:01 +0000

This post on Bach seems especially well written to me, how you interweave his music, your feelings about detailed medical visits, and your wistful concerns about your legacy. Regarding this last, I am reminded of the Saying of the Rabbis, “It is not given to us to complete the task, but neither are we allowed to desist from it.” I think this is hopeful because efforts, even if seemingly incomplete, pay off in unexpected ways. I have taught hundreds of students in my career and graded probably thousands of papers. Most of that work goes into a void–the papers are returned, the students graduate, sometimes with a good word for me and sometimes not. I seldom know whether I had any lasting impact on them. But very occasionally, and sometimes after a very long time–ten, twenty years–a wonderful comment will come floating back from someone who takes the trouble to let me know I benefited him or her. I don’t ask for more.

By: Evelyn Herwitz

Evelyn Herwitz — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 21:47:20 +0000

In reply to Kathy Pulda. Thanks! I really appreciate your feedback and that of everyone who’s commented so far. Quite the adventure developing this.

By: Kathy Pulda

Kathy Pulda — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 16:38:53 +0000

I look forward to reading your wonderful blog every week. Blog is such a weird word. Your writing seems too eloquent for something entitled blog. Too close to blob and doesn’t do your words justice.